Cracking Force Analysis for Apricot Pit Decortication Based on Mathematical Model of Hertz's Theory

In decortication of wild apricot pit a mathematical model based on Hertz's theory of contact stress was developed for the prediction of force required to break the pit. Using pits subjected to a uniaxial compression stress, in their lateral axis between rigid parallel plates, and those propelled to impinge a rigid cylindrical seat along its lateral axis, experimental verification of the model was conducted comparing the theoretical predictions with estimates from the representations of conventional methods employed in pit cracking. Properties including size, shape, and mass, required in the derived model were determined for wild apricot pits. Material stiffness was obtained from the force-deformation curve. Material stiffness obtained was 51.1 × 10 6 to 46.9 × 10 6 Nm-1 for different sizes of the pits (12, 11, 10, and